The Other Side

Chapter 4

My parents arrive home together today, Saturday being one of their biggest days. My dad's a landscaper, and my mum helps with paperwork and design and layout of the yards. When I hear their car pull up it takes a little while for them to get inside.

"Lexi," Mum calls, and when she finds me in my room again, she calls Dad down and they both come in.

"What's up, Lex?" Dad says, hanging in my doorway as he's quite filthy.

"Nothing," I reply sulkily. "Just hiding."

"From what or whom?" Mum asks, grinning as she already knows.

"Why is this funny to you?" I question, getting annoyed.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because any normal teenage girl would kill to be in your position." Mum taunts.

"That's what I'm afraid of," I say seriously. "I'm afraid one of those crazed girls at school will kill me to get to Harry. They'll kill me and skin me and wear my skin to be disguised as me, and you'll think it's me and raise that psycho girl in my skin as your own."

My dad bursts out laughing. "I promise to check that your skin is still yours every day when you get home from school."

"Thanks," I say glumly.

"Hey, I have something that'll cheer you up," Dad says excitedly. "We're going out for dinner."

I get up, already excited.

"James, don't tease her!" Mum scolds.

"We're not going out for dinner?" My face falls.

Mum looks at me, worry on her face. "We are."

I look between them, so confused. "Where are we going?"

"Anne and Joe invited us over to their place for dinner," Mum finally answers.

I give out a huge groan and throw myself back down on the bed. "I hate my life."

"Well, hate it while you get ready," Dad instructs. "We're heading over there soon."

45 minutes later I'm dressed and grumbling and rolling my eyes. My parents scowl at me, and I scowl right back at them. They won't let me stay at home, saying that it would be 'rude'. But I think I can prove to them that I can be just as rude while out of my house too. As soon as we've walked over though, I know I can't do it. Anne and Joe are there ready to greet us, and they're really sweet.

"Hi again Alexia," Anne greets me as I walk in. "How's suspended life treating you?"

My mother blushes, embarrassed by my rebellious actions that caused me to be suspended.

"Just great," I reply with a huge smile. "It's been an eventful few days at home."

"Harry told us you were hassled by a journalist yesterday," Joe says, giving me an apologetic look. "We're all so sorry."

I shrug. "It's ok."

"You started entertaining without me?" a voice cries, and Harry appears in the living area. "Hi, I'm Harry," he says, extending his hand to my father, and then leaning in to kiss my mother on the cheek when he greets her.

Forward much? I think to myself. When he looks as though he's about to approach me for a greeting, I fold my arm across my chest and wave with the other one, taking a small step back.

"And you know, I didn't get your name today when we met," Harry says grinning, exposing perfect dimples. It's also weird seeing him with a shirt on - he's wearing a plain white t-shirt, blue jeans and a grey beanie with his wild curls poking out the bottom.

"That's because my daughter is incredibly rude," my mum says in a joking manner, but I know it's a warning to me.

"Alexia," I say with a sweet smile, and then I grit my teeth.

"Dinner's almost ready if you want to make your way in," Anne says excitedly, ushering us into the dining room.

It's a gorgeous room, and the furnishings have really made it extravagant. My parents comment on how lovely it is, and talk about boring adult stuff. I hang back, wishing I was at home.

"You gonna forgive me eventually and smile?" Harry asks, coming up beside me.

I look up at him sideways, not saying a word. I shrug, and he rolls his eyes and grins, pulling a chair out and motioning for me to sit as everyone comes to sit at the dining table. I take the seat and mutter a 'thank you'. Harry goes out and helps his mum bring the food in and lay it on the table, and then he sits opposite of me. Of course.

Dinner is delicious, they've made Beef Wellington. Our parents talk about parent stuff and jobs and such, and I sit there, quiet as anything. I stare at my plate for a while, not wanting to look up and see what Harry is doing. But stupid me eventually makes the mistake, and when I do he's staring at me.

"So what do you do, Alexia?" he asks as the table quietens down.

"I go to school," I reply, and when I feel my mother kick me under the table I know I'm expected to say more. "When I'm not suspended." Another kick. "And I babysit. And that's it."

"And you read," Harry points out with a grin.

"I do love immersing myself in a good book. It's great when you don't get distracted while reading it, and you just get right into it," I say, staring hardly at him.

"And what about when you finish school?" Anne asks, oblivious to the feelings I have towards her son.

"Well, I have to do my GCSEs and then I'll go to college and study Psychology and Sociology," I say with a smile.

"Lovely," she replies. "Harry was going to study Sociology, as well as Law and Business. Before..." and she trails off, because we all know what he does now.

"Wow," I say over-enthusiastically. "You must have been really smart." I hope he picks up on the fact that I said 'must have been'.

Our parents obviously pick up on the fact that we aren't getting along as well as they would hope, so they quickly take over the conversation again. We're there for a few hours, and by nine I'm ready to go home and head to bed. I have to sit tomorrow for a two year old and a four month old baby, so I need all the rest I can get.

My parents have the same idea, and we're out of there by 9.30. We thank Anne, Joe and Harry for their hospitality, and mum ensures them they'll be over our place next weekend for dinner. Oh joyous, I think. I hope I have to sit next weekend too.

"Later, Alexia," Harry says with a grin as I walk out the door, and he says it quiet enough so no one else hears it.

When I'm sure no one's looking I give him a harsh stare, but he keeps on smiling. I head for home, and my parents are right behind me. I go straight to bed when I get inside, brush them off claiming to be tired, which I am. I'll to them about it later. For now I need sleep, and I need to get Harry Styles out of my head.

I toss and turn all night, barely sleeping at all. Harry's annoying smile keeps popping into my head. I hate how he smiles even when I'm being as rude as possible. I pray that I'll make it through the next week without talking to him, without being annoyed by school girls, and without getting harassed by a journalist again.

But probably not.